Sorry for the wait, reality crashed back again and 1-I couldn't escape exams and 2-my muse abandoned me for a while (sighs). Other than that I was shocked and SO glad you liked the first two chapters! Hope you'll like the rest too xD.

Rated T for swearing at the end…

Thanks to: chocolatefan , MK, Iloveplotbunnies, chocolateymenta, lisbon69, raquelvalente91, leelou09, Helvetica Bold, Frogster and Famous4itfor their reviews!

Thanks to those who put me in their alerts and favourites too!

Disclaimer: I do not own Mentalist, I do not earn money over these fics, and I definitely don't deny having an obsession with AUs xD! warning: my English grammar isn't the best. Hope you'll enjoy the story anyway –won't blame you if you don't ;D

Guardian Angel

2.

It was late, yet her room was still glowing from the small lamp on her desk. A few books and notebooks were opened and she was writing furiously on her paper, almost done. The deep bags under her eyes betrayed her exhaustion, but she knew she had to finish that essay for the following day. The sudden bang of the front door made her put down her pen. She quickly glanced at her clock - 2 am- and stormed the most silently she could out of her room. A loud groan and the reek scent of alcohol confirmed two things; one, her father was back, two, he was completely drunk.

"Teresa!" he yelled through the silent house. "Where are you; bitch!"

The young woman sighed and blinked tiredly. So much for hoping he'd be quiet for once and not wake up her brothers. She walked down the last steps and stopped when he caught her in sight.

"Help me to my bed" he growled, dropping the bottle of –whiskey? Beer? she didn't want to know- on the ground.

She obeyed and put his arm around her shoulders, silently cursing Mother Nature for not making her stronger. She barely led the man to the living-room –no way she would be able to carry him upstairs, and let him drop on the couch. He groaned one last time before sinking into a deep drunken sleep. She took off his shoes, socks, made sure his belt or collar didn't prevent him from breathing and threw a cover over his body. The usual ritual done, she glared at him, barely restraining herself from screaming out of anger. One day, she promised herself, one day she was going to leave this hellhole with her brothers and abandon him behind. She had no hope of redemption for him, for he was too deep in his addiction and didn't even try to change. She wouldn't be saying goodbye only to him, she added mentally. John, her blackmailer asshole of boyfriend, the rotten high-school she was stuck in for now, the insane neighbourhood…One day she was just going to quit and leave. At the first opportunity, after her graduation, she was packing and flying from here.

She just hoped, as she walked back upstairs, that day would come soon.

-GA-

Patrick Jane was a man on mission. New file, new case, and new boss already pissed off.

After freeing him from the Underground, Hightower and him had gone right back to her office. Right now, he was lying down on a couch he bugged her to bring in, reading the file's information repeatedly, imprinting the data. The Archangel was battling furiously with a colleague about his future release. Her exasperated shouting made him smirk a second before he straightened up on the seat. Finger intertwined and elbows resting on his knees, he slightly rocked his upper body back and forward, trying to gather his thoughts. This wasn't going to be easy. Four approaches already failed and now it was his turn. His had to be gradual and direct at the same time. He had to earn her trust in a short amount of time without being too suspicious. He grinned. That was a real challenge, and who was Patrick Jane to refuse a challenge?

Lying back down, he crossed his arm behind his head and thought of a plan of action. More important right now, how to infiltrate her life; the rest would have to be learned on the field.

According to her file, she lived in a small apartment of two levels in an ill-famed block; her high-school was about twenty minutes by feet, and she worked at a small fast-food near the school. School teacher, he decided immediately. A close neighbour, even though it was the favourite move of a GA, wasn't the best solution. He needed a place out of the area, where she could escape her environment if she ever came at his house. And he would be a nightmare of an employee. He just needed to have a word with Minelli, and that problem should be solved. The Archangel was the director of her highschool, and teacher had just resigned according to Hightower.

His little inner voice teased him about choice of career; he hadn't played a prank on anyone for three years and students would be so easy preys. He chuckled at the thought.

His smirk faltered quickly as he became serious again. Yes, teacher was perhaps fine, but not enough. Not that he doubted his techniques of approach but the young lady seemed to be quite touchy and impulsive. If she punched Mitchelle -he smirked at the image, he had always disagreed with the GA old-schooled methods- he didn't want to be hit if he made a wrong move. He needed an accomplice, someone he could trust to keep an eye on her without appearing suspicious and at the same time help him get closer to her. A classmate perhaps? He nodded at his idea. That was good, but it aroused another problem. Who would work with him? He drove crazy all his former partners and with his recent status of Fallen it was unlikely he found a willing GA…So someone who won't be intimidated by his new charge and crazy enough to work with him.

A huge grin spread on his face. Yes. Oh yes. He knew exactly who would fit the job. Hightower wasn't going to be pleased, but who cared! She had already called him for last resort –certainly broke a few rules on the way- so what was one more little twist in the regulation? He snorted; that was none of her concern after all. She asked him on the job, she had to assume the consequences.

"What are you thinking Agent Jane?"

Her snappy voice pulled him out of his thoughts. When he met her eyes, he knew immediately she wasn't delighted about something.

"Oh, what's the matter my dear?" he asked in fake sweetness. "Uncle Bart took your candies away?"

"I made a deal with Archangel Ace" she replied dryly. "He's willing to set you free if you close your case successfully."

"No 'buts'?" Jane asked doubtfully.

"None of your concerns, I owe him a favour now" she snapped, standing up and walking towards him. "Just don't make me regret I let you out. I'll be following you the time of your settlement and keep an update from time to time." She stopped right in front of him and bent over him. "I want this case closed, is it clear?"

"Clear as crystal" he grinned: "Permission asked to talk to Minelli."

"Granted" she frowned suspiciously, certainly wondering what he had imagined this time. "For residence…"

"I'll choose a place myself, it's essential to my plan" he added a bit too seriously. "Of course, I'll give it back once the case is closed."

"Granted" she sighed; shaking her head. "Shall we go now?"

He stood up, took his jacket and put it on.

"We're heading to San Francisco right?" When Hightower nodded, he added in a very innocent tone: "Do you mind if we make a little jump in New York before?"

-GA-

"Please remind me why we are in a park at four in the morning" Hightower growled, sending a death glare at her new GA. "There's no-one awaked yet."

Jane and she had been sitting on a bench for half an hour, the man assuring he needed to pick up something there. They formed an odd image; him in his infamous grey suit and Hightower, not wanting to show up in her Archangel attire, in a professional jacket and skirt, both waiting for whatever he wanted on a old worn bench. The woman's patience was starting to wear thin. Not only she was sure he was going to manipulate her at some point, but she was starting to freeze. Being an angel didn't prevent her to feel like humans; she had been a living human in a previous life after all.

"Just a little patience my dear" he replied lazily. "She'll be here in no time."

Before Hightower could comment on the 'she', the sound of a motorcycle resonated in the silent avenue. The closer it got, the louder it went. Jane grinned and stood up.

"Your patience is rewarded my dear. Come on, I don't want to miss her."

They quickly walked out of the park and stood on the sidewalk. At the sight of a huge motorbike, Jane waved widely in the air.

Hightower could hardly believe what happened next: the driver must have crushed the breaks, for the bike made a horrible high-pitched sound and stopped at a few feet of them, raising a cloud of dust that surronded them. As it dissipated, Hightower took a closer look at the driver's silhouette. He or she –if she believed what she heard- was wearing a large brown leather coat, black pants tight around thin legs and a pair of boots –leather too. The driver turned the engine off and climbed down of the huge motor –Hightower wondered how such a frail frame could handle such a beast- and took off her gloves then her black and red helmet.

What hit her first was the evident age of the young woman. She couldn't be more than twenty, yet her dark eyes surronded by a black eyeliner held that deep light; the glint of those who knew how cruel the human race could be and had witnessed it. Long braided red hair fell on her shoulder, contrasting with the pale and smooth skin of her face. Her features showed shock and bemusement at their sight. Hightower knew at the recognition in her eyes she was the reason why Jane made her wait in the cold morning. The young woman opened her mouth and when she spoke, it was certainly not the way the black woman had expected:

"Patrick fucking Jane! Is it really you, you bastard?"

The man grinned in answer and opened his arms wide and welcoming. The teen didn't wait any longer and, throwing her helmet carelessly on the ground, she hugged him excitingly.

"I'm so freaking glad to see you Blondie!"

Jane sighed at the despised nickname and shook his head.

"You know Glary, I'm very sad you haven't lost that habit of swearing in every sentence."

The redhead pulled back, a huge grin on her face.

"Sorry Blondie. I'm improving –on mom's grave I guarantee!"

"Good girl" he replied playfully, rubbing her hair. "And my name's Jane, not Blondie."

"When you stop calling me Glary first."

Hightower was sunned. The young woman was acting freely, ignoring completely her presence, having her eyes set on the blond man. And she looked so happy to see him! She quickly recalled all the cases Jane had closed, searching for a match or a name. The GA beat her to it.

"Boss?" his voice cut her off her thinking and she reluctantly turned back her attention on the pair. The Grace girl had crossed her arms and was looking at her with curiosity. "Meet Grace Van Pelt, or better-known as the former subject of the 'Red Case'."

Hightower's eyes popped wide in disbelief. The Red Case had been at the time the most unpopular file in the office, transferred five times in three years before being put aside. She hadn't heard all of it, but the bits she managed to gather at the time were troubling. The girl was barely nine and already considered a lot cause. Through the years, she head the GA in charge barely managed to restrain her violent impulses. She even wondered if the case had been officially closed at all and was surprised that Jane managed to find it, for she was certain he never officially worked for it.

Looking at them, both seemed rather close, like family. She'd have to run an investigation once back at the office. Regaining composure, the Archangel acknowledged the new piece of information by nodding and waited for an explanation, arms crossed. Jane was solemn now, as if wary about the repercussions of what he was about to say next.

"Permission asked for her being my assistant during the next mission."

I couldn't resist, I just love Van Pelt OOC xD Just a little detail: I have absolutely no knowledge in motorbikes or whatever close to it, though I fully intend making of Van Pelt a bike-lover. Bike-lovers out there, please forgive me if you found wrong points in further chapters u_u". In the meantime, please let me know what you think ;)

Thank ya for reading so far! xD